Adjustable tension gate Z-bracket

ABSTRACT

The invention is an adjustable tension gate bracket for application to fencing panels, specifically gate panel, applied to the frame components of the gate panel with diagonally adjustable interlocking and engaging upper and lower members for adjusting the swing and pitch of the gate panel, providing a stable support for the opening end of the gate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Provisional Patent Application No. 60/254,757, filed on Dec. 12,2000.

I. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention is an adjustable tension gate bracket forapplication to fencing panels, specifically gate panel, applied to theframe components of the gate panel with diagonally adjustableinterlocking and engaging upper and lower members, adjusting the swingand pitch of the gate panel, and providing a stable support for theopening end of the gate.

[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art

[0005] The following United States patents are identified and disclosedherein. Several devices are disclosed relating to gate braces andbrackets. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,149 to Kraczek, a gate tensioningsystem is disclosed, a tensioning device located between the verticaland horizontal elements of the gate, including a removable panel on thecross brace is disclosed, the removable panel providing access to aturnbuckle within the cross-brace. A diagonal cross-brace assembly isdisclosed for a fence post, the brace having pivotally attachingdiagonal braces which are engaged with each other and adjustable usingfasteners within a plurality of holes, providing adjustment of the braceto varying landscape and terrain. A diagonal stress and bracing systemis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,761 to Hanneken, the brace securingfencing posts using a horizontal brace with a pair of diagonal anchorarms extending from the horizontal brace to the base of the posts. Achain tensioning system for a swinging gate is disclosed in U.S. Pat.No. 4,468,888 to Harris.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] On most wooden or stockade fences, the gate panel is comprised oftwo or more horizontal supports upon which a plurality of verticalfencing slats are attached forming the fencing panel. The objective ofthe current invention is to provide an adjustable bracket for those gatepanels used for in a wooden or stockade fence.

[0007] These gate panels are generally cut to fit the desired opening,hinges are attached between the horizontal supports on the gate paneland the fence post, and a gate catch is attached to the opening end ofthe gate to close the gate against another fence post. The presentinvention, having two horizontal members pivotally attaching to slidablyengaging upper and lower diagonal tensioning rods, first attaches thetwo horizontal members of the invention to the horizontal supports onthe gate panel. The slidably engaging upper and lower diagonaltensioning rods are then adjusted to obtain the proper swing, level andheight of the opening end of the gate panel above the ground and toaffix the gate latch on the gate panel at a constant height for properengagement with the gate catch on the post to which the opening end ofthe gate panel is secured.

[0008] A second objective of the invention is to provide this adjustmentnot only at installation, but during the useful life of the fence andgate, readjusting to compensate for warping, sag, or damage to thefence, and insuring consistent level operation and swing of the gatepanel.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following drawings are informal drawings submitted with thisprovisional patent application.

[0010]FIG. 1 is a front view of the invention installed on a fence gatepanel.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a view of the pivot joint between a horizontal memberand a diagonal tensioning rod.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a view of an embodiment of the slidable engagement jointof the upper and lower tensioning rods.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a view of the center diagonal anchor bracket.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] The invention, as shown in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings, is anadjustable tension gate bracket 10 for application to fencing panels,specifically swinging gate panels 100, applied to the horizontal framecomponents 110 of the swinging gate panel 100, the invention comprisingan upper horizontal mounting member 20, a lower horizontal mountingmember 30, an upper diagonal member 40, a lower diagonal member 50, ameans 60 of adjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to the lowerdiagonal member, and a center diagonal anchor bracket 70.

[0015] The upper horizontal mounting member 20 has a plurality of holes22 for mounting the upper horizontal mounting member 20 to the swinginggate panel 100 using screws 12, a first end 24 and a second end 26, thefirst end 24 positioned at the latch side of the swinging gate panel100, the second end 26 positioned at the hinge side of the swinging gatepanel 100. The lower horizontal mounting member 30 also has a pluralityof holes 32 for mounting the lower horizontal mounting member 30 to theswinging gate panel 10 using screws 12, a first end 34 and a second end34, the first end 34 positioned at the latch side of the swinging gatepanel 100, the second end 36 positioned at the hinge side of theswinging gate panel 100.

[0016] The upper diagonal member 40 has an upper end 42 and a lower end44, the upper end 42 of the upper diagonal member 40 pivotally attachedto the second end 26 of the upper horizontal mounting member 20, suchpivotal attachment provided, in one embodiment as a smooth rivet 14 heldonto the upper diagonal member 40 and the upper horizontal mountingmember 20 by a cotter pin 16, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Thelower diagonal member 50 has an upper end 52 and a lower end 54, thelower end 54 of the lower diagonal member 50 pivotally attached to thefirst end 34 of the lower horizontal mounting member 30, such pivotalattachment provided, in one embodiment as a smooth rivet 14 held ontothe lower diagonal member 50 and the lower horizontal mounting member 30by a cotter pin 16.

[0017] The lower end 44 of the upper diagonal member and the upper end52 of the lower diagonal member are provided with the means 60 ofadjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to the lower diagonalmember. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings,such means 60 of adjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to thelower diagonal member is provided for by the lower end 44 of the upperdiagonal member forming an enlarged cavity 46 suited to receive theupper end 52 of the lower diagonal member, the enlarged cavity 46 havingat least one Allen screw 48 which captures the upper end 52 of the lowerdiagonal member 50 received within such enlarged cavity 46 in a fixedmanner. The center diagonal anchor bracket 70 attaches the upperdiagonal member 40 to the swinging gate panel 100, as shown in FIG. 4 ofthe drawings, providing additional stability to the invention 10 and theswinging gate panel 100.

[0018] The invention is preferably applied to the swinging gate panel100 after such swinging gate panel 100 is mounted onto the fence postand any other hardware is applied. The upper horizontal mounting member20, the upper diagonal member 40, the lower diagonal member 50 and thelower horizontal mounting member 30 are assembled together, after whichthe upper and lower horizontal mounting members 20,30 are attached tothe horizontal frame supports 110 of the swinging gate panel 100,preferably using screws 12 applied through the plurality of holes 22,32.The means 60 of adjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to thelower diagonal member is then adjusted as the swinging gate panel 100 isopened and closed to determine the appropriate swing and pitch of theswinging gate panel 100, adjusting the hinge side of the swinging gatepanel, up or down as needed until the proper height of the latch side isobtained. The means 60 of adjustably connecting the upper diagonalmember to the lower diagonal member is then fixed to maintain such swingand pitch of the swinging gate panel 100. If the swinging gate panel 100needs later adjustment, the means 60 of adjustably connecting the upperdiagonal member to the lower diagonal member may be loosened and thentightened after readjustment is made.

[0019] Although the embodiments of the invention have been described andshown above, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art thatnumerous modifications may be made therein without departing from thescope of the invention as herein described.

I claim:
 1. An adjustable tension gate bracket for application tofencing panels, specifically swinging gate panels, applied to horizontalframe components of such swinging gate panel, the invention essentiallycomprising: an upper horizontal mounting member; a lower horizontalmounting member; an upper diagonal member; a lower diagonal member; ameans of adjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to the lowerdiagonal member; and a center diagonal anchor bracket.
 2. An adjustabletension gate bracket for application to fencing panels, specificallyswinging gate panels, applied to horizontal frame components of suchswinging gate panel, the invention comprising: a. an upper horizontalmounting member having i. a plurality of holes for mounting the upperhorizontal mounting member to the swinging gate panel using screws, andii. a first end and a second end, such first end positioned at the latchside of the swinging gate panel, the second end positioned at the hingeside of the swinging gate panel; b. a lower horizontal mounting memberhaving i. a plurality of holes for mounting the lower horizontalmounting member to the swinging gate panel using screws, and ii. a firstend and a second end, such first end positioned at the latch side of theswinging gate panel, the second end positioned at the hinge side of theswinging gate panel; c. an upper diagonal member having an upper end anda lower end, the upper end of the upper diagonal member held together bya pivotal attachment to the second end of the upper horizontal mountingmember, d. a lower diagonal member having an upper end and a lower end,the lower end of the lower diagonal member held together by a pivotalattachment to the first end of the lower horizontal mounting member; e.a means of adjustably connecting the upper diagonal member to the lowerdiagonal member; and f. a center diagonal anchor bracket.
 3. The device,as disclosed in claim 2, wherein the pivotal attachments define a smoothrivet fixing the upper diagonal member and the upper horizontal mountingmember by a cotter pin and a smooth rivet fixing the lower diagonalmember and the lower horizontal mounting member by a cotter pin.
 4. Thedevice, as disclosed in claim 2, wherein the means of adjustablyconnecting the upper diagonal member to the lower diagonal member isprovided for by the lower end of the upper diagonal member forming anenlarged cavity suited to receive the upper end of the lower diagonalmember, the enlarged cavity having at least one Allen screw whichcaptures the upper end of the lower diagonal member received within suchenlarged cavity in a fixed manner, and the center diagonal anchorbracket attaches the upper diagonal member to the swinging gate panelproviding additional stability between the device and the swinging gatepanel.